Spring steel tire



April 17, 1926. I 1,666,373 F. S. FELDHEIM SPRING STEEL TIRE Filed0613. 1. 1926 INVENTOR f5. FELDHf/M ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNI TED STATES PATENT lorries.

FELIX S. .FELDHEIM,.OF EVANSIfON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR O FIONE-HALF'TOVICTOR ,KARBOW'SKI, OF CHICAG ILLINOIS.

SPRING STEEL TIRE.

Application 'fi1cd.'0ct0ber 1,1926. Serial No. =.138.S38.

My invention relates to improvements in spring steel tires, and itconsists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a spring steel tire which isresilient, and in which the pressure is distributed evenly throughoutthe tire.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which is puncture-proof and which is free from blow-outs.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which is economical in that metal is substituted for rubber,and that one thickness of metal is used instead of several thicknessesof rubber and fabric.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which obviates the need of inner tubes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the steel portion will last permanently, the rubbertread being removable,

therefore permitting a new tread to be placed thereupon.

Other ob]ects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming partof this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the deviceapplied to a vehicle rim, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the line 22 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a body portion having resilientside portions 1 and 2. The side portions 1 and 2 are arcuate-shaped incross section and have their centers spaced apart. An annular headportion 3 is provided and is arcuate-shaped in cross section. Annulargrooved portions 4 are disposed between the head portion 3 and theresilient side portions 1 and 2.

Integral with the side portions 1 and 2 and extending inwardly therefromare flange portions 5. The edges of the flange portions 5 are bentinwardly toward the head portion 3 and backwardly toward the sideportions 1 and 2. Reinforcing rings 6 are disposed upon the flangeportions 5 adjacent the inner walls of the side portions 1 and 2.

Atread 7 which isconstructed ofrelative- 1y hard rubber is provided withinwardly extending bead portions 8. The bead por tions 8 are receivablewithin the grooved portions 4. Retainer rings 9 which are constructed ofany suitable material are disposed ad'jacent the outer surface of thebead portions 8 and permitted to rest upon the side portions 1 and 2.The tread 7, together with the bead portions 8 and the retainer rings 9,is secured in place by rivets or bolts 10 which are passed throughopenings therein.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The body portion may bedisposed upon a rim which is indicated at 11 in the manner in which theordinary vehicle tires are dis posed thereupon. lVhen the rim 11 is'inplace, the flanges 5 rest upon the rim and the reinforcing rings 6 tendto hold the flanges in place. The edges of the flanges 5 prevent inwardmovement of the flanges.

The spacing apart of the centers of the arcuate-shaped side portionsincreases the resiliency thereof. Furthermore, pressure upon one portionof the tread 7 will be distributed evenly throughout the body portion.The tread 7 may be permanently secured to the body portion by means ofrivets, or if desired, it may be removably secured to the body portionby means of bolts. It is obvious that the body portion will lastpermanently, and if desired, the tread 7 when worn may be removed and anew tread placed thereupon.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a body portion havingresilient side portions, an annular head portion, and annular groovedportions disposed between said side portions and said head portion, atread disposed upon said head portion, bead portions integral with saidtread and receivable in said grooved port-ions, retainer rings disposedadjacent said bead portions, means extending through said groovedportions, said bead portions, and cooperating with said retainer ringsfor securing said tread in place, inwardly extending flange portionsintegral with said side portions, and reinforcing rings disposed uponsaid flange portions adjacent the inner walls of said side portions.

2. 1 device of the type described comprising a body portion constructedof a resilient material of relatively equal thickness throughoutandhaving side portions, an annular head portion, annular grooved portionsdisposed between said side portions and said head portion, and flangeportions extending inwardly from said side portions, reinforcing ringsdisposed adjacent said flange portions, an annular tread disposed 10upon said head portion, inwardly extending bead portions integral withsaid tread and receivable in said annular grooved portions, retainerrings disposed adjacent said bead portions, and means extending throughsaid grooved portions, said bead portions, and cooperating with saidretainer rings for securing said tread in place, said retainer ringsengaging with said side portions and arranged to support the outerportions of said tread.

FELIX S. FELDHEIM.

